Massive corruption in Education deptt alleged

Source: The Hitavada Date: 03 Jul 2018 10:21:54

Staff Reporter,

Senior corporator Abha Pande has alleged a massive corruption in purchase of material by the Education department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). She provided a plethora of documents to Municipal Commissioner Virendra Singh about purchasing various items without calling proper tenders.

The Education Department had purchased school stationary, 4 bicycles and other goods worth of Rs 49.49 lakh in different quotations to avoid tender process. Pande has demanded in-depth inquiry of the purchase and removal of Education Officer Sandhya Medpalliwar from the post during inquiry period. She alleged that Kapil Nagar School has purchased photographs of great leaders worth of Rs 50,000 by paying exorbitant rates.

Pande had given notice in the general body for discussion over the issue but the discussion could not be held due to pandemonium in the house. She alleged that NMC Education Department had purchased material worth of Rs 26 lakh from a vendor Tanush Traders and remaining material was purchased from other vendors. There is a nexus between the vendors and officers of the Education Department as Sanjay Nagar Secondary School had purchased stationary worth of Rs 1.47 lakh not by inviting tender but by quotations, she claimed. Dattatraya Nagar School also purchased stationary worth Rs 91,000 including carpet worth of Rs 49,700 without obtaining permission from the Standing Committee, she added.

Valmiki Nagar school had purchased exam materials worth of Rs 49,880 for the students by quotation. A school had purchased 4 racing bicycle worth of Rs 60,000 each from the market while actual price of a cycle is not more than Rs 7000, she claimed. Abha Pande said that 20 secondary schools out of total 29 schools had purchased sanitation materials worth of Rs 49,000 for each school. The Health Department of the NMC is cleaning all the schools with their material then why they will require additional materials, she asked.

Kamgar Nagar Urdu School is having classes of IX and X th but the school management has purchased drawing materials of Rs 49,980 for 52 students even though they do not have drawing subject in these classes, she added. Kapil Nagar school has purchased six green boards worth of Rs 49,000 for the students. Cost of these boards is not more than Rs 3500 in market, she claimed. Durganagar School has purchased desk and benches worth of Rs 98000 without calling a tender.

Pande said, as per the directions of Municipal Commissioner, the purchase on quotation above Rs 50,000 is not permissible without a tender, therefore, the department purchased the materials in pieces to avoid tendering process. This is a mega scam and Commissioner should not spare any one, she demanded.